tình yêu
[tïŋ˨˩ ʔiəw˧˧]
The English word love is expressed in Vietnamese as tình yêu. Wiktionary also lists ái tình.
Meaning: strong affection (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| tình yêu | [tïŋ˨˩ ʔiəw˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tɨn˦˩ ʔiw˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| ái tình | [ʔaːj˧˦ tïŋ˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔaːj˨˩˦ tɨn˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
Tình yêu is the word for love. When used as a verb, yêu can mean to be strongly inclined towards doing something or, more euphemistically, to have sex with someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The term tình yêu is composed of tình (feeling/emotion) and yêu (to love).
Related words
When do people say it?
When expressing 'I love you' informally, a male often says Anh yêu em to a female, while a female says Em yêu anh to a male.
Did you know?
- The verb yêu may have originated from a word meaning 'charming' or 'beautiful' rather than 'affection'.
- In Vietnamese culture, saying yêu is often considered more intense and serious than saying thích, which means 'to like'.
- The word ái can be found in many formal Sino-Vietnamese compounds, mirroring how 'love' is used in classical Chinese.
Examples in context
- Tình yêu là gì?What's love?This example shows how to ask the question 'What's love?' using tình yêu.Tatoeba #13598309 by leucammieuvu, translation #9359671 by shekitten
- Ganesha là tình yêu.Ganesha is love.This sentence uses tình yêu to state that Ganesha is love.Tatoeba #13825360 by leucammieuvu, translation #13824737 by Adelpa
- Đó là tình yêu sét đánh.It was love at first sight.This sentence uses tình yêu in the phrase for 'love at first sight'.Tatoeba #13472363 by leucammieuvu, translation #456157 by lukaszpp
- Em là người yêu của anhYou are my lover
- Anh yêu em nhiều lắmI love you very much
- Tình yêu của anh/em là mãi mãiMy love for you is forever
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Lan are talking about a romantic movie.
- NamBộ phim này nói về tình yêu thật đẹp.This movie talks about a very beautiful love.
- LanĐúng vậy, mình cũng thấy vậy.That's right, I feel the same way.
- NamLan có tin vào tình yêu không?Lan, do you believe in love?
- LanMình luôn tin vào điều đó.I always believe in it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “love” translations and entries tình yêu, ái tình, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tình, tình yêu, yêu, ái, ái tình, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
